Not ready to retire

Ryan Jenkins has made life
difficult on Illinois Wesleyan opponents.
IWU athletics photo

By Jason Bailey
for D3sports.com

It wasn’t the traditional form of senior leadership, but
Illinois Wesleyan defensive end Ryan Jenkins preserved his
tongue-in-cheek nickname for at least another week after two
crucial stops helped the Titans earn their second playoff berth in
three years.

“Grandpa” isn’t ready to retire.

The fifth-year senior who led the CCIW with 8.5 sacks after
missing last season because of injury sparks an experienced unit
that hosts Monmouth in an intriguing first-round playoff matchup.
The Titans (9-1, 6-1 CCIW) are ranked eighth in Division III
defense after allowing 11.3 points per game while the Fighting
Scots (9-1, 9-0 MWC) average a nation-best 49.3 points behind
superstar quarterback Alex Tanney.

“Throughout the year it’s almost been a different
guy (every time) making a play when our backs are against the
wall,” Rundle said. “That’s huge. Having somebody
step up and rise to the occasion, saying ‘Hey I’m going
to end it on this play.’ That’s obviously why
we’re in the playoffs.”

Illinois Wesleyan knew it needed three wins to make the
postseason after a shutout loss against CCIW champion North
Central, and Jenkins delivered with decisive fourth-quarter plays
in consecutive one-possession victories. A fourth-down sack against
Millikin and forced fumble against Carthage reinforced that
he’s at full speed despite playing with 10 screws in his
ankle after breaking his fibula and dislocating his ankle in a 2010
preseason scrimmage.

Since Monmouth lost its season
opener to Wartburg, St. Norbert is the only team to have any
success. Even though the Green Knights lost 10-3, defensive
coordinator Bob Forgrave created a blueprint other teams might
follow by quickly applying pressure on Tanney with zone
blitzes:

“He’s got a great arm,
and I know he’s going to get some NFL looks. The ball comes
out of his hand fast and he does throw a rocket. He’s good.
There’s no question. ... You give any quarterback time to
throw the ball and they’re going to find open receivers. And
Tanney can throw into small windows. It’s no really big
secret. ... He’s used to finding somebody in the seam and he
puts it right in there. You can’t give him a bunch of time to
throw the football. We want him to catch it and release it. ...We
were just able to neutralize him and force him into a short passing
game, which is not typically what he wants to do. He wants to get
the ball down the field and get some big plays. ... You let
quarterbacks get comfortable and get hot, they start playing
pitch-and-catch with their receivers. And they start gaining more
and more confidence.”

Jenkins, who has the second-most sacks (17.5) in Illinois
Wesleyan history, doesn’t mind being called
“Grandpa” even though he isn’t actually the
oldest player on the team.

“As soon as they started, I thought ‘Oh no. This is
going to be a whole season thing,’ Jenkins said with a laugh.
“It doesn’t really bother me. It’s
funny.”

Opposing offensive tackles haven’t found anything to smile
about. Jenkins takes advantage of film study to keep them off
balance with an array of pass-rush moves, including his self-titled
“halfspin” — faking a spin inside before rushing
to the outside. It’s important to recognize how offensive
linemen react after the snap, Jenkins said, because some quickly
step back to form a cushion while others aggressively get their
hands up to block.

Illinois Wesleyan head coach Norm Eash said he was disappointed
Jenkins or senior linebacker Ryan Gresko (team-high 76 tackles, two
sacks, two forced fumbles) didn’t win the conference’s
defensive player of the year award. As an undersized defensive end,
Jenkins has had success modeling his game after Dwight Freeney of
the Indianapolis Colts.

“He’s deceptively strong. He is going to beat you
with quickness and then he’s going to come back and bull-rush
you,” Eash said. “Offensive tackles have a hard time
adjusting to that.”

The Titans face their stiffest challenge yet after allowing only
four passing touchdowns during the regular season. Tanney missed
most of 2010 after tearing the AC joint in his throwing shoulder,
but has guided the Fighting Scots to 556.7 yards per game —
best in Division III by almost 50 yards. Along the way, he set an
NCAA career record for passing touchdowns (154) and a Division III
record for passing yards (13,686).

Although Illinois Wesleyan doesn’t excel at creating sacks
or forcing turnovers, it keeps points off the scoreboard with a
bend-but-don’t-break defense that supplements a mediocre
offense. The Titans average 24.5 points per game behind the steady
play of sophomore quarterback Rob Gallik and a rushing attack that
will emphasize ball control against Monmouth.

“We just try to play real sound and not allow big plays
from the other team,” Gresko said. “Make them drive
down the field — which is hard for a lot of teams to
do.”

Ben Houk is among the seniors
looking to extend their career on the defensive side of the ball at
Illinois Wesleyan.
IWU athletics photo

Despite facing potent offenses including North Central and
Wheaton, Illinois Wesleyan hasn’t allowed a completion longer
than 50 yards or a rush longer than 30 yards. That success against
quality opponents makes Eash comfortable the defense can control
Monmouth’s attack.

“We’re going to stay true to our schemes,”
Eash said. “I think the worst thing you can do is get in the
playoffs and think you should reinvent the wheel. I think we can
put pressure on [Tanney] just with our rush and our speed and
quickness up front.”

Rundle, who spent seven years as a Penn State defensive
assistant, carried over principles from one of Division I’s
consistently stingy defenses when he arrived at Illinois Wesleyan.
The Titans run a 4-3 defense with a Cover 3 shell that allows a
safety to creep toward the line of scrimmage.

The Titans made a quick transition, posting two nonconference
shutouts and holding each CCIW opponent below its season average in
points. Six defensive players were named to the all-CCIW first and
second teams — Jenkins, Gresko, senior linebacker Ben Houk,
senior safeties Scott Wenzel and P.J. Cummings, and junior
defensive end Trey Cunningham — and eight starters have
recorded at least 40 tackles.

That balanced output gives the Titans hope Saturday’s game
could resemble the first meetings between the teams — in
1898, Illinois Wesleyan tied Monmouth 0-0 before winning 11-0.

“It could be a lower-scoring game than everyone
expects,” Eash said. “I don’t want to get into a
track meet.”